Three Saints to Represent Team USA at World Junior A Challenge

By Jordan Kuhns, 11/17/17, 1:00PM CST

Share

Three Saints to represent the United States at top showcase

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Fighting Saints forwards Alex Steeves (Bedford, N.H./Notre Dame) and Cole Guttman (Los Angeles, Calif./Denver/Tampa Bay Lightning), as well as defenseman Brendan Bushy (Thief River Falls, Minn./St. Cloud State) are set to represent the United States at the annual World Junior A Challenge in Truto, Nova Scotia. The tournament runs from December 10 until December 16.

Steeves, Guttman and Bushy are all off to high-flying starts with the Fighting Saints.

Guttman, an All-USHL Rookie from a season ago and the Fighting Saints’ captain, ranks second on the team in scoring, and is in the midst of an impressive five-game point streak that includes three goals and four assists. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect has been one of the most consistent players since his emergence in the league, with 63 points in 68 career USHL games.

Steeves has arrived on the scene in his third season as one of the most offensively prolific forwards in the USHL, and the leading scorer on the Saints. He currently has a six-game point streak that includes three goals and seven assists that dates back to October 14. The Notre Dame commit has over 100 games of junior hockey experience, and a growing resume.

Bushy, a one-time USHL Defenseman of the Week, has anchored the Saints’ top defensive pair, and has served as an alternate captain this season. A career +11, Bushy has 68 games of USHL experience in the regular season, and eight more games of playoff experience since the start of the 2016–2017 season. This is the first time that Bushy will represent his native country.

Team USA will be coached by legendary Waterloo Black Hawks head coach PK O’Handley. The United States has captured the gold medal at this event seven times, most recently capturing gold at the 2016 showcase in Bonnyville, Alberta.